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How to fix the Assad problem

The talks on war and peace in Syria had barely begun when they hit a brick wall: there is not a sliver of agreement between the United States and Damascus on the future of Bashar Assad.

Mr Assad, the Damascus delegation made clear, has no plans to go anywhere, but diplomats, in transatlantic meetings and huddled in Swiss chateaux, have been sketching out three possible ways in which a “transitional government” could come about:

Option I: Mr Assad is persuaded to step down before the June election and accept a package that could include exile for his family and retention of his fortune. The army and security service would stay but be made accountable in parliamentary elections. The military would be opened to allow for…